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Police on Thursday announced the arrests of two people in connection with two recent bank robberies in Frederick County.

Investigators from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office and Maryland State Police announced the arrests during a joint press conference, as they stood behind a table filled with key evidence — $4,000 in cash and a BB gun — they said was confiscated from the suspects.

Carlos Ismael Williams, 28, of Virginia is being held without bond on handgun, assault, theft and robbery charges from both the Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State Police.

Denise Smith, 37, of District Heights, is also being held on $250,000 bond and faces charges of robbery, armed robbery and theft over $500.

Both remain in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center, and court records do not list an attorney for either defendant.

Williams and Smith are accused of simulating an argument before robbing Sovereign Bank on Corporate Drive, Frederick, on May 22.

Police said descriptions of the two led them to link the suspects with another robbery that took place June 30 at PNC Bank in the 9100 block of Walnut Street, Libertytown.

"After the descriptions were put out, it was immediately understood that these were the same individuals," said Capt. Timothy Clarke of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.

An arrest warrant for Williams was put out shortly after the first robbery, police said, because he left his wallet on the counter of Sovereign Bank. "He just left it behind by mistake … to our benefit," Clarke said.

A food stamp used by Smith at a grocery store led to her identification and address in Prince George's County. She then led investigators to her home, which she shared with Williams, he said.

Lt. Michael Brady, of the Maryland State Police's Frederick Barrack, urged Frederick residents to stay vigilant and aware to protect themselves in banks.

"You really don't know when and where these things will take place," he said.

E-mail Erica L. Green at egreen@gazette.net.